- James Brown - vocals

- Al Clark - sax (1965-)

- Joe Dupars - horns (1965-)

- Lucas Gander - keyboards (1965-)

- Alphonso Kellum - guitar (1965-)

- Jimmy Nolen - guitar (1965-)

- Maceo Parker (1965-)

- Melvin Parker - drums (1965-)

- St. Clair PIckney (1965-)

- Levi Rasbury - trumpet (1965-)

- Ron Tooley - horns (1965-)

- Eldee Williams - sax (1965-)

- none known

Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Papa's Got a New Bag

Company: King

Catalog: 938

Year: 1965

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: --

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4735

Price: $30.00

Any discography as long as James Brown's is bound to be confusing and convoluted.  Starting in 1964 the plotline really starts to get weird.  By 1964 Brown's relationship with King Records was in taters.  Apparently unaware, or simply unconcerned with the legal ramifications, Brown signed a contract with Mercury's Smash subsidiary.  (He subsequently said he thought his contract with King had expired.)  Over the next couple of months Brown released a string of albums and 45s on the new label.  That came to a crashing halt in May 1964 when King slapped him with an injunction on future releases.  Always a pragmatist, Brown subsequently agreed to return to the fold, but did so with an understanding he'd be granted greater artistic freedom.  He also gained the right to continue releasing instrumental albums on Smash.

As fate would have it, Brown's first new release for King proved to be a major hit.  'Papa's Got a New Bag (Parts 1 and 2)' topped the R&B charts and hit # 8 on the pop charts (King catalog number 45-5999).  The single's surprising success left King scrambling for a follow-on album.  As was standard mid-1960s marketing procedure, the result was the cleverly titled "Papa's Got a New Bag".  Gathering up a mix of previously released material, the quality on this one is pretty erratic (don't you love the big budget artwork?).  Highlights include the goofy 'Mashed Potatoes, U.S.A.', the old school 'This Old Heart' and 'You Don't Have To Go'.  Given the title track 45's represent in it's original two part version, most folks can probably live without this one, though propelled by the hit the parent album hit # 26.

"Papa's Got a New Bag" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Papa's Got a New Bag (Part 1)   (James Brown) - 1:55

2.) Papa's Got a New Bag (Part 2)   (James Brown) - 2:12

3.) Mashed Potatoes, U.S.A.   (James Brown) - 2:49

4.) Cross Firing   (James Brown) - 2:18

5.) Love Don't Love Nobody   (Ray Brown) - 2:02

6.) I Stay In the Chapel Every Night (Just Won't Do Right)   (James Brown) - 2:40

(side 2)
1.) And I Do Just What I Want   (James Brown) - 2:23

2.) This Old Heart   (James Brown) - 2:08

3.) Baby, You're Right   (James Brown - Joe Tex) - 3:05

4.) Have Mercy Baby   (Billy Ward) - 2:14

5.) You Don't Have To Go   (James Brown) - 2:42

6.) Doin' the Limbo (instrumental)    (James Brown) - 2:28

Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Cold Sweat

Company: King

Catalog: 1020

Year: 1967

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4732

Price: $30.00

Cost: $66.00

Anyone listening to 1967's "Cold Sweat" has to agree that consistency has never been James Brown's forte. How the man could go from recording something as ground breaking and funky as the title track to a cover of 'Mona Lisa' or George Gershwin's 'I Loves You Porgy' (from Porgy and Bess') is simply beyond comprehension.  Technically the album liner notes were correct in proclaiming "all new great songs never in an album".  The problem with that marketing ploy was the fact that Brown had recorded much of the material back in 1964 and compared to the title track material such as 'Mona Lisa', 'I Want To Be Around' and 'Come Rain Or Come Shine' came off as little more than contractual obligation filler.  Be forewarned that the second side is heavy on over-orchestrated ballads and rather tough to get through.  I'm a big James Brown fan and have to admit that I've never been able to listen to the entire side in one sitting.

"Cold Sweat" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Cold Sweat Part 1   (James Brown - Alfred Ellis) - 

2.) Cold Sweat Part 2   (James Brown - Alfred Ellis) - 
3.) Fever
4.) Kansas City
5.) Stagger Lee
6.) Good Rockin' Tonight

(side 2)
1.) Mona Lisa
2.) I Want To Be Around
3.) Nature Boy
4.) Come Rain Or Come Shine
5.) I Loves You Porgy
6.) Back Stabbin' (instrumental)

Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Say It Loud I'm Black and Proud  

Company: King

Catalog: 5-1047

Year: 1969

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: promo sticker on back cover; original gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4734

Price: $30.00

The self-produced "Say It Loud I'm Black and Proud" is pretty standard late-1960s James Brown. In practical terms that means there are a couple of killer ground breaking numbers, a couple of okay efforts, and quite a bit of needless filler.  The 'socially relevant title track (note Brown's new hairstyle) and 'Licking Stick' clearly fall into the former category.  Both were released as singles, providing Brown with two of his bigger hits:

- 1969's 'Say It Loud - I'm Black and Proud (Parts 1 and 2) (King catalog number 45-5157)

- 1969's Licking Stick (Parts 1 and 2) (King catalog number 45-6166)

Elsewhere the R&B-ish 'I Guess I'll Have To Cry' and 'Goodbye My Love Pt 1 & 2'  (with a haunting guitar pattern) fall in the second category while the other seven tracks (including most of side two) fall in the third grouping.  Like so much of Brown's catalog, it leaves you to wonder what kind of commercial success he would have enjoyed had he been able to craft a thoroughly consistent album.

"Say It Loud I'm Black and Proud" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Say It Loud I'm Black and Proud (Part 1)   (James Brown - Alfred Ellis) - 

2.) Say It Loud I'm Black and Proud (Part 2)   (James Brown - Alfred Ellis) - 

3.) I Guess I'll Have To Cry, Cry, Cry   (James Brown) - 3:33

4.) Goodbye My Love (Pt 1 & 2)   (James Brown) - 5:31

5.) Shades of Brown (instrumental)   (Bud Hobgood) - 2:45

(side 2)
1.) Licking Stick   (James Brown - Alfred Ellis - Byrd) - 2:45

2.) I Love You   (James Brown - Kellum - Stbblefield) - 3:33

3.) Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye  (J.D. Loudermilk) - 3:52

4.) Let Them Talk   (Thompson) - 4:01

5.) Maybe I'll Understand   (James Brown - Bud Hobgood) - 3:17

6.) I'll Lose My Mind    (James Brown - Bud Hobgood - Byrd) - 2:44